[Statement] 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child 90 708 petitions to “End Juvenile Execution

Four countries in the world are still executing juveniles. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty issued a call on Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen, to stop executions of juvenile offenders. 90.708 petitions to “End Juvenile Executions” were gathered, from 30 countries all over the world.

A delegation of the World Coalition will go on 20 November to the embassies of the four countries in Paris to handover the petitions. If the diplomatic authorities deny an audience, the signed petitions will be sent to the Iranian, Saudi, Sudanese and Yemeni heads of governments.

This is the warning addressed by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty for the 7th World Day against the Death Penalty celebrated on 10 October 2009. This year’s World Day was dedicated to : “Teaching abolition”. The campaign was a resounding success marked by a major mobilization and wide media coverage.

Today 139 States have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. Nevertheless, 58 countries maintain this cruel, inhuman, degrading and useless punishment and 25 still execute every year.